AIDS

Overview
AIDS (Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome) is an autoimmune disease that can be accompanied by a wide range of other symptoms and opportunistic infections. When any of these opportunistic infections include a positive diagnosis of the HIV virus, a patient is said to have AIDS. AIDS is controversial, in this respect, because of how widely AIDS symptoms can vary, both in terms of how it manifests around the globe, and also how it affects different risk groups.

In the United States and Europe, the most common characteristics of AIDS are Kaposi`s sarcoma (a type of cancer), pneumocystis pneumonia, candidiasis, and mycobacterial infections such as tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis (a disease caused by protozoa that damages the central nervous system, eyes, and internal organs), cytomegalovirus, and the herpes virus. Other symptoms often associated with AIDS include diarrhea, weight loss, night sweats, fevers, rashes, and swollen lymph glands.

The Problem with Defining AIDS: In January 1993, the original defining criteria for AIDS was changed by researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prior to that time, to be diagnosed with AIDS, patients had to exhibit one or more of 25 symptoms listed by the CDC, and also be HIV-positive. In 1993, the CDC added three new conditions to this list—cancer of the cervix, bacterial pneumonia, and tuberculosis—which, when accompanied by HIV, is now considered to be AIDS. The effect of this decision dramatically and, some claim, artificially inflated the statistics of people who have AIDS. In the U.S. alone, the figures immediately rose from 250,000 to 400,000, causing noted epidemiologist, Gordon Stewart, M.D. of England to ask, "Will any woman with cervicitis, any man with urethritis, prostatitis, genitourinary cancer or any cancer, or perhaps severe infection, or any other unspecified, wasting or multiple disease, who happens to be HIV-positive, be diagnosed and registered as having AIDS and treated for HIV disease just because those in the business can expand their domain across any diagnostic code and scruple?"

Adding to the problem of defining AIDS are the stark differences between the groups said to be most at risks for contracting AIDS. For example, Kaposi`s sarcoma is 20 times more common in gay men with AIDS than in all other American AIDS patients. By contrast, tuberculosis (TB) is the primary AIDS symptoms among intravenous drug users. In Africa, AIDS is not categorized according to risk groups because it seems to evenly occur among the population and between the sexes. AIDS symptoms among Africans are chiefly diarrhea, wasting, fever, and persistent cough. All of these symptoms have been quite common in Africa for many decades, well before AIDS began to be defined, and are also the primary symptoms of most other tropical diseases.

Because of such discrepancies, much confusion and dissent remain about what AIDS really is and even whether it can accurately be classified as a distinct disease. The common factor in all the symptoms and disease conditions associated with AIDS is HIV. If patients with these symptoms and conditions test positive for HIV, they are said to have AIDS. If they test HIV-negative, they are said to be AIDS-free even if they have the same symptoms and other disease conditions as HIV+ patients. This has led to a kind of diagnostic discrepancy that is not found for any other type of disease. Further compounding the problem is the fact that some scientists, researchers, physicians, and other health care practitioners dispute whether or not HIV even causes AIDS, a question that is considered heretical by the AIDS establishment, which focuses all of its efforts in developing drugs and vaccines that target and destroy the HIV virus. Critics of this approach point out that such drugs and vaccines are in themselves highly toxic and may in fact be causing many of the symptoms associated with AIDS. Rather than focusing on HIV, these dissenting health experts argue, the focus should be instead on educating people about risk factors that are common among AIDS patients, such as recreational and pharmaceutical drugs, unprotected sex, exposure to bacterial infections, and, especially in Africa and other Third World countries, malnutrition, dysentery and contaminated drinking water.

The HIV Debate: Although the AIDS establishment insists that HIV is the sole or primary cause of AIDS, there is no clear cut scientific evidence that this is actually so. Although most people with AIDS also test positive for HIV, that in and of itself is not proof that HIV actually is the cause of AIDS. Critics of the HIV=AIDS hypothesis argue that the evidence that HIV causes AIDS remains tenuous and circumstantial, at best.

One of the main critics of the HIV=AIDS hypothesis is molecular biologist Peter Duesberg, Ph.D., Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California at Berkeley. In 1987, Dr. Duesberg rejected the HIV=AIDS hypothesis in the journal Cancer Research. Dr. Duesberg is a world-renowned scientist and long-standing member of the National Academy of Sciences, and one of the world`s foremost experts on retroviruses - a class of viruses to which HIV belongs. After reviewing every paper on HIV and AIDS published up until that time, Dr. Duesberg concluded that HIV was a "harmless," latent, inactive virus, incapable of infecting more than a few immune cells. Based on his research, Dr. Duesberg even said that he "wouldn`t mind being injected with it."

As a result of his published paper and openly espoused views, Dr. Duesberg suddenly found himself cut off from every source of research funding that he applied for. Prior to his rejection of the HIV=AIDS hypothesis, by contrast, he received grant money for every researcher project to which he applied. In essence, the AIDS establishment has done all that it can to marginalize Dr. Duesberg`s research about HIV and AIDS by cutting off his livelihood as a once prominent scientific researcher. Despite their attempts, however, Dr. Duesberg`s views continue to attract the attention of and be accepted by growing numbers of other well-respected scientists, researchers, and physicians.

Adding to Dr. Duesberg's views is the fact that growing numbers of AIDS patients with severe immune suppression, who test negative for HIV, are being reported. According to Dr. Duesberg, there may be as many as 5,000 such cases. A basic tenet of diagnostic medicine, known as Koch's Postulate, states that, for a causative factor (such as a virus, bacterium, or parasite) to be considered a definite cause of a disease, it has to be clearly present in all cases of the disease. Clearly, this is not the case with HIV in relationship to all AIDS patients.

But perhaps the most striking point of Dr. Duesberg's rejection of the HIV=AIDS hypothesis is that HIV demonstrates very little direct cell-killing activity. In fact, when Dr. Duesberg viewed HIV under a microscope, amidst lymphocytes (cells important in the creation of antibodies), the virus didn't move at all and the cells remained perfectly intact despite being in its presence. According to Dr. Duesberg, this was normal and to be expected because, "Retroviruses are not typically cytocidal, that is, they do not kill cells." But AIDS establishment counters that direct cell killing is not necessary for the acceptance of the HIV=AIDS hypothesis, claiming that HIV kills cells by one of several highly complex indirect mechanisms. Dr. Duesberg contests that there is no evidence for any of these elaborate mechanisms and that HIV is far too simple genetically to perform these feats. Harvey Bialy, M.D., another well-respected researcher who rejects the HIV=AIDS hypothesis, agrees with Dr. Duesberg, pointing out that, "HIV is an ordinary retrovirus. It only contains a very small piece of genetic information. There's no way it can do all these elaborate things they say it does."

Another problem with the HIV=AIDS hypothesis are the HIV tests themselves. The most common methods of testing for HIV are the Western Blot and ELISA (enzyme-linked immunoserological assay) tests, both of which measure antibodies to HIV, not the HIV virus itself, and both of which can be inaccurate. In the case of the ELISA test, HIV antibodies are often detected in patients who in actuality are not infected by the virus, usually as a result of a stress response. As for the Western Blot test, it is not standardized, meaning that a positive HIV test in one country would not necessarily be considered positive in another country. In addition, antibodies to a variety of viruses, bacteria, and other antigens can cross-react with antigens in the tests potentially leading to false-positive test results. Other conditions that can produce false-positive results are immunizations, herpes, hepatitis, tuberculosis, malaria, parasites, alcoholism and liver disease, pregnancy, and infection with mycobacterium or yeasts.

Finally, though many people do become infected with HIV, a great deal of evidence indicates that a healthy immune system can keep it from causing damage. As a result, even holistic practitioners who do not reject the HIV=AIDS hypothesis outright, still focus their efforts on boosting the immune system rather than seeking to destroy HIV with drugs that can cause harmful side-effects, such as the drugs recommended by the AIDS establishment.

Symptoms of AIDS
Full-blown AIDS is usually accompanied by a steady decline in CD4 immune cells, which in a state of health, should be between 900 and 1,600, but in AIDS patients can drop to as low as zero. Another factor usually associated with AIDS is a drop in T4 cells, which are also integral to proper immune function. The drop in CD4 and T4 cells is then usually followed by any one or more of 28 symptoms associated with AIDS, including Kaposi`s sarcoma, pneumocystis pneumonia, candidiasis, tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, the herpes virus, diarrhea, weight loss, night sweats, fevers, rashes, swollen lymph glands, and certain kinds of cancer.

Causes of AIDS
Although the medical establishment insists that AIDS is caused by the HIV virus, holistic health care practitioners realize that other factors are equal, and perhaps more important in terms of how AIDS is caused. Such factors include the use of illegal drugs, especially stimulants such as amyl nitrates ("poppers") and injected heroin (as well as the sharing of unclean needles by drug users); the chronic use of pharmaceutical drugs, including antibiotics, which destroy healthy flora in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby setting the stage for the invasion and proliferation of harmful microorganisms; poor or malnutrition; contaminated vaccines for diseases such as hepatitis B; tainted blood transfusions; contaminated drinking water; exposure to toxic pollutants; and chronic states of unhealthy emotions, such as stress, fear and despair.

The AIDS drug AZT and, to a lesser extent, protease inhibitors, have also been known to cause AIDS-like symptoms. In addition to its known ability to severely suppress immunity, AZT has also been shown to suppress important health-related tasks of bone marrow, thereby causing anemia, neutropenia (abnormally small number of neutrophils in blood, a white blood cell that protects against infection) and leukopenia (abnormal decrease in white blood corpuscles) in up to half of all people who use the drug. Other side effects of AZT include muscle wasting, extreme nausea, acute hepatitis, headaches, insomnia, dementia, seizures, and the appearance of cancerous lymphomas, all of which are also symptoms associated with AIDS itself.

As for protease inhibitors, although they are not as toxic as AZT, they too, are not without side effects. Furthermore, in order to be effective, they need to be taken in high doses, which can increase their toxicity over time. The body quickly develops resistance to protease inhibitors, as well, eventually making them ineffective. Some of the severe side effects known to be caused by protease inhibitors include chronic diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, headaches, and fever.
Natural Cures

While conventional AIDS treatment focuses almost entirely on targeting and eliminating HIV, holistic health care practitioner focus instead on restoring health by addressing dietary and nutritional deficiencies, boosting immune function, and addressing unhealthy lifestyle factors and unresolved psychological issues of their AIDS patients. As a result, many long-term AIDS and HIV survivors continue to experience good health by working with alternative physicians, even when they still test positive for HIV.

Acupuncture: Acupuncture has been shown to be an effective and vital tool for the treatment of HIV infection and AIDS, particularly when used in conjunction with other alternative therapies. Studies indicate that acupuncture helps to increase immune function and T-cell production, and can also help ease many of the symptoms related to HIV infection and AIDS. Among the benefits commonly achieved by acupuncture for AIDS patients are reduction in fatigue, abnormal sweating, diarrhea, and acute skin reactions, typically after only 4-6 acupuncture treatments. Many AIDS patients also report an improved sense of well-being and, in some cases, healthy weight gain and improved stamina, allowing them to resume normal daily activities.

Acupuncture has also been shown by numerous clinical studies to increase T-cell counts. According to Michael Smith, M.D., who conducted one of the studies, T-cell ratios in some AIDS patients rose dramatically over a 2-3 month period due to acupuncture alone. In one such study, involving 200 patients with AIDS, acupuncture was also found to be capable of reducing levels of secondary opportunistic infections. Another study, conducted at Lincoln Memorial Hospital in New York City, 20 out of 27 people with AIDS who received acupuncture treatments experienced a reduction in their fatigue symptoms, night sweats, and diarrhea after 1-3 weeks. Many of the patients also experienced healthy weight gain. In another study, 15 patients who received regular treatment at Somerville Centre, near Boston experienced improvements in their general symptoms and for six of them, acupuncture helped reduce side effects of conventional medical treatment for Kaposi's sarcoma.

Jay Holder, M.D., D.C., Ph.D. of Miami, Florida, has achieved significant results using acupuncture. He describes the case of a man with AIDS, suffering from Kaposi`s sarcoma, and given just 22 months to live. Within three weeks of treatment with acupuncture and Chinese herbs, his T-cell count returned to normal and his lesions disappeared.

Aromatherapy: Tea tree oil and garlic oil can both be helpful for improving immune function and for helping to protect against opportunistic infections.

Diet: The following dietary guidelines should be followed by all AIDS patients: Eat, organic whole foods with as many essential nutrients and as few additives as possible, concentrating on fresh, organic vegetables, fruits, and proteins (fish and meat). Avoid all processed foods, and eliminate refined carbohydrates (sugars, white flour, pastries), replacing them with complex carbohydrates such as whole grains and beans that are rich in nutrients. Also reduce polyunsaturated and saturated fats and oils, using monounsaturated oils (such as olive oil) and omega-3s (fish oils) instead.

Eat smaller portions of food more frequently throughout the day to optimize absorption of nutrients, and try to keep your food intake balanced. The following guidelines are ideal: 65% complex carbohydrates (vegetables, fruits, and grains), 15% protein (fish, yogurt, eggs, and meat), and 20% fat. Also ensure that the fruits and vegetables you eat are clean and free of bacteria and parasites. For best results, steam them lightly before you eat them.

Be sure to also screen for and eliminate all foods to which you may be allergic or sensitive, and abstain from all sources of chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol.

Candidiasis, or systemic yeast overgrowth, is common among AIDS patients. Therefore, your diet needs to be free of all simple carbohydrates and sugars. You should also regularly consume anti-fungal foods, such as garlic and olive oil, along with specific substances that kill the yeast, such as caprylic acid (a fatty acid) and aloe vera. In addition, cultured raw dairy products such as raw kefir and live low-fat yogurt, as well as probiotic supplements such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacteria and L. bulgaricus are recommended for their anti-fungal and antibiotic properties.

Herbal Medicine: The use of herbal medicines in the treatment of AIDS is widespread. Useful herbs include astragalus, Carnivora (Venus' flytrap), echinacea, garlic, isatis root, licorice, goldenseal, hyssop, and St John`s wort. Aloe vera can also be effective. An extract of mannose, one of the sugars in aloe, has been found to inhibit HIV-1 ( strain of the HIV virus). In one study, HIV-1 cells were treated in vitro with the mannose extract. Aloe slowed virus reproduction by as much as 30%, reduced viral load, suppressed the spread of the virus from infected cells, and increased the viability (chance of survival) of infected cells. Researchers found that aloe stimulates the body`s immune system, particularly T4 helper cells (white blood cells that activate the immune response to infection).

Chinese bitter melon, monolaurin (a component of certain fatty acids), and lentinan (extract of shiitake mushrooms) have also shown dramatic anti-HIV effects, and red clover tops, chaparral, dandelion, sarsparilla, and pau d`arco, taken in combination, can also be helpful.

Since the early 1980s, bitter melon fruits and seeds have been tested as an effective therapy for cancer and HIV. At the Amsterdam International Conference on AIDS in 1992, Quingcai Zhang, a Chinese medical doctor and herbalist, presented data of a study he conducted using bitter melon. In Dr. Zhang`s study, those who took bitter melon for four months to three years had CD4 counts increase between 33% and 285%. His findings showed that, in most cases, it normalized T4-to-T8 ratios, raised T4 counts over time, and increased energy and sense of well being. Dr. Zhang also noted that bitter melon blocked HIV-infected macrophages (immune cells that recognize and ingest foreign antigens)—something AZT does not do—as well as infected lymphocytes such as CD4 cells.

Bitter melon extracts or decoctions can be taken orally or rectally. A rectal retention enema is recommended, because the plant is very bitter and unpleasant to drink and may cause nausea. Using an enema also avoids the breakdown of the bitter melon proteins in the stomach acid, allowing them to instead be absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the large intestine.

Homeopathic Growth Factors: Homeopathic growth factors are a type of homeopathic remedy prepared from growth factors, a class of more than 30 protein substances known as polypeptides that regulate cell growth and division, and make possible inter- and intracellular communication as well as cell specialization. They can also transmit signals that trigger events between cells that change the way a cell uses DNA, resulting in appropriate cellular response to external events.

The therapeutic use of homeopathic growth factors have been shown to hold promise as a method for reversing the weight loss and immune dysfunction associated with AIDS, according to Barbara Brewitt, Ph.D. Dr.Brewitt has worked with a growth factor solution prepared by genetic engineering that was then prepared as various homeopathic dilutions of the growth factor substances. In a 12-month clinical trial with 30 AIDS patients using the homeopathic growth factors, Dr. Brewitt found that the patients experienced an average weight gain of almost ten pounds, as well as total absence of opportunistic infections. Moreover, the patients` CD4 cell counts either remained stable or only increased slightly, and there was a corresponding decrease in their degree of viral infection.

Hyperthermia: Hyperthermia involves artificially creating fever in the body for the purpose of boosting immune function. Hyperthermia can be a highly effective method of eliminating toxins and heavy metals, as well as infectious bacteria and viruses that cannot survive in elevated body temperatures. Research has shown that AIDS is heat-sensitive and will become increasingly inactive as body temperature is raised progressively above normal (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) for extended periods of time. Additionally, sweating is very cleansing for the body`s largest eliminative organ, the skin. Because of its power to detoxify, some holistic practitioners, especially Naturopathic Doctors, make hyperthermia a central feature of their treatment protocol. Hyperthermia is often done occasionally as an immune boosting home treatment, or in conjunction with a specific cleanse. In the case of a more serious condition it is possible to combine hyperthermia with long periods of bed rest as part of a deeper detoxifying protocol.

Please seek the advice of your alternative health care practitioner before undergoing these sweat-inducing procedures to make sure they are appropriate for you

*Purified water is essential for any hyperthermia treatment. Remedies for Treating Chlorinated Bath Water offers clear instructions and recommendations.

Massage Therapy: Massage has been shown to provide significant benefits for people with AIDS or HIV. The benefits are physical - improved circulation and drainage of blood and lymph fluid, relaxation of muscles, and improved joint mobility. Benefits are also mental and emotional - reduced stress and a greater sense of ease and well-being. Research shows that massage helps to create a safe environment in which emotions relating to issues such as death, dying, and sadness can emerge to be healed. It can also act as a catalyst that reinforces touching and hugging in daily life, bringing about improvements in terms of a person`s self-image and self-esteem, as well as reducing any sense of isolation and loneliness.

The resulting stress reduction derived from massage therapy can have a powerful immune-enhancing effect, according to research conducted at the Touch Research Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, which found increased natural killer (NK) cell activity and other immune system improvements to be directly related to massage therapy.

Important: People with AIDS who receive massage often have specific needs. The massage should not be too fast or too deep, to ensure that the adrenal gland system is not over-stimulated, which can challenge the immune system. The person giving the massage should instead use gentle touch and focus on relaxation, comfort, and nurturing, instead of dealing with postural problems.

Mind/Body Medicine: There is an absolutely vital relationship between a person`s emotional state and their immune system. This is especially true in cases of AIDS and HIV infection, where the mind/body relationship has a profound impact on whether patients maintain or recover their health, or experience a further decline. Tremendous negative mental and emotional burdens are usually placed on patients when they are initially diagnosed as being HIV-positive or having AIDS, due to the fears surrounding such a diagnosis. This can hinder the commitment they need to make to restore themselves to health. Cultivating a positive spiritual, mental, and emotional attitude that is based upon self-responsibility and self-reliance is a key aspect of any alternative healing approach for HIV infection and AIDS.

Emotions such as guilt, hopelessness, suppressed anger, and fear add to the burden of the immune system. Fortunately, most negative emotions can be easily resolved with a little effort and attention. Any stress-coping strategy that reduces these negative influences, such as relaxation exercises, meditation, visualization, psychotherapeutic counseling, support groups, and prayer, can help boost immune function. This has been proven scientifically in many research studies.

Jon Kaiser, M.D. of San Francisco, California, specializes in the practice of alternative therapies and the mind/body connection, and treats a high percentage of patients who are HIV-positive. As an integral part of his approach for dealing with AIDS and HIV, Dr. Kaiser emphasizes to his patients the following points: AIDS is not a death sentence. By beginning a comprehensive, alternative, healing program early, patients can reasonably expect to live out their normal life span. Maintaining a positive attitude is essential for this process. Panic or succumbing to the negative messages that the media and the medical establishment promote needs to be avoided at all costs, and getting appropriate help in doing so (counseling, support groups, etc.) can pay big dividends in terms of health and longevity.

Janet Konefal, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Miami School of Medicine, employs a counseling protocol aimed at "expanding limiting beliefs and altering behaviors among HIV-positive individuals." She stresses how important it is for the therapist to gradually guide AIDS patients whose negative mental state may carry images of past illness and loss, as well as poor images of future prospects in terms of health, happiness, and survival, to a position of self-empowerment in which positive, hopeful images can start to regularly replace these negative images.

In order to achieve this shift, Dr. Konefal employs techniques that incorporate symbolism, imagery, and goal-setting in a structured and individualized manner. "The result is that the patient`s dark, morbid, immuno-suppressing thoughts give way to light, life-affirming thoughts that foster the will to live and create an emotionally stronger and more optimistic individual," she says.

Nutritional Supplements: Nutritional supplementation has been shown in clinical studies to offer great benefits to people already seriously ill with AIDS, and is essential for full recovery. People who are HIV-positive or diagnosed with AIDS are most commonly deficient in the following essential nutrients: vitamin A, pyridoxine (B6), folate, vitamin B12, selenium, and zinc.

Other useful nutrients include: beta carotene, vitamin B complex, thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), pantothenic acid (B5), vitamin C, and vitamin E. Folic acid, biotin, potassium, magnesium, and manganese are also recommended, as are free form amino acids, glutathione, and essential fatty acids (particularly omega-3s and omega-6s). N-acetyl-cysteine and lipoic acid can also be helpful, as can garlic and garlic capsules.

Oxygen Therapies: Oxygen therapy is considered by many holistic physicians to be the safest and most effective method of treating AIDS and its associated infections. Oxygen therapy uses hyperbaric oxygen, ozone, or hydrogen peroxide to combat HIV in much the same way as the immune system uses self-generated oxygen free radicals (a single oxygen atom) to destroy bacterial and viral infections. The extra oxygen atoms in ozone (O3) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) break off and link with the invading molecules, altering their molecular structure, in effect killing the harmful cells and leaving behind only oxygen (O2) or water (H2O).

In one study, when HIV-infected blood was removed from the body and treated with ozone, the virus was completely deactivated in the test subjects. Another approach used by holistic physicians is to simply inject a diluted form of ozone into the bloodstream. This treatment can be done daily for several weeks at a time. French researchers Bertrand Vallancien and Jean-Marie Winkler studied ozone therapy with a group of patients with HIV, herpes, and hepatitis. After nine weeks of transfused ozone, T4 and T8 cells moved toward normal levels in all cases and the ozone treatments caused no problems. Ozone has also been found to be effective for AIDS-related diarrhea. German researchers use bioluminescence (the radiation of blood with ultraviolet light) in conjunction with ozone therapy to treat viral and other infections.

Hydrogen peroxide, like ozone, can be administered intravenously and can also be taken rectally by enema, vaginally, or transcutaneously (absorption by bathing). The late Charles H. Farr, M.D., Ph.D., a leading specialist in the use of hydrogen peroxide therapy, recommended the intravenous method of delivery. Other doctors use combinations of ozone and hydrogen peroxide and report equally good results as well, because of a synergistic response in the cells. Although hydrogen peroxide can also be taken orally, Dr. Farr did not recommend doing so because of how the enzymes of the stomach are unable to process it properly.

Since 1990, Michelle Reillo, B.S.N., R.N., has been treating AIDS patients with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT—pure oxygen delivered for 30-60 minutes to patients inside a sealed chamber with high pressure) at Lifeforce Hyperbaric Oxygen Institute, in Baltimore, Maryland. Reillo and her colleagues concentrate on providing relief and reversing many of the complications associated with HIV infection or AIDS diagnosis. "Hyperbaric medicine has well-documented evidence supporting its use in many AIDS-defining complications and infections, regardless of the underlying disorder," Reillo says. "HBOT would be an ideal intervention in the individual recently infected with HIV, because it decreases viremia (viruses in the blood), is not toxic to the individual, and decreases the microvascular and neurovascular (small blood vessel) damage occurring as the initial infection progresses throughout the body."

HBOT has demonstrated its effectiveness in relieving peripheral vascular insufficiency. This means a reduced supply of blood to the feet and hands, leaving them cold and frequently painful. Reillo reports that, over a three-year period, 100 AIDS patients with this problem have received considerable benefit after receiving only two weeks of HBOT (three treatments per week). First among the symptoms to improve was fatigue, then an increase in the ability to exercise and tolerate activity, followed by a warming of the extremities, an increase in energy, and less pain in the legs and feet following activity. The level of oxygen in the tissues climbed from a low 79% to a healthy 98%, adds Reillo.

HBOT performs well as an adjunct to conventional antibiotic regimens for AIDS patients, Reillo explains. This is especially so in the area of opportunistic infections such as Mycobacterium avium complex, a deadly form of tuberculosis that attacks the bone marrow. This complication affects up to 20% of AIDS patients. Getting more oxygen invariably stimulates the appetite and the patients want to eat more, says Reillo. "Oxygen makes you hungry," she says. With appetite improvement, Reillo counsels AIDS patients on the details of a well-balanced, nutritionally rich diet. "The healthier you eat, the less likely you are to lose weight and develop infections," she states.

One of the most serious consequences of AIDS is the dangerously low level of T cells, but here again HBOT is helpful, says Reillo. Over the course of four months of HBOT, Reillo was able to get a woman`s T cells to climb from 400 to 800; even better, her CD4 count doubled.

While the oxygen free radicals generated in oxygen therapy are deadly to viruses and bacteria, they can also do damage to healthy tissues if left unchecked. When the body manufactures these oxygen-based defense substances, it follows this immediately by sending protective antioxidant enzymes to quench the process before harm to healthy tissue can take place. Nutritional support is generally recommended with any oxygen therapy, particularly vitamin C supplementation, which acts as a stabilizing antioxidant.

Alternative Professional Care
The following therapies can also be helpful for dealing with AIDS and HIV: Biofeedback Training, Energy Medicine (Light Beam Generator, Ondamed), Enzyme Therapy, Guided Imagery Meditation, Orthomolecular Medicine, Magnetic Field Therapy, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

See Glossary for descriptions of these Alternative Therapies.
Quick Action Plan for AIDS
   To Print this Section:

   1. Eat only organic, fresh whole foods, emphasizing nutrient-rich fresh fruits and vegetables, and protein foods such as eggs, tempeh, and raw dairy, as well as wild caught fish and free-range, organic meats and poultry. Also eat plenty of nutrient-rich complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains, bean, and legumes.
   2. Drink plenty of pure filtered water throughout the day.
   3. Avoid all alcohol, caffeine, refined carbohydrates, pasteurized dairy products, all forms of sugar, white flour, and commercially processed foods, as well as soda, commercial fruit and vegetable juices, and commercial, non-herbal teas.
   4. Important supplements to boost immunity include vitamin A, beta carotene, B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, biotin, folic acid, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and zinc. Free form amino acids and essential fatty acids are also recommended.
   5. Useful herbs include astragalus, bitter melon, Carnivora (Venus flytrap), Echinacea, garlic, ginseng, goldenseal, isatis root, and licorice root.
   6. Hyperthermia (heat therapy) can significantly improved resistance to the opportunistic infections associated with AIDS, especially when used in conjunction with proper diet, nutritional and herbal supplements, and other alternative natural therapies.
   7. Helpful professional care treatments include acupuncture and oxygen therapy (hydrogen peroxide, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, ozone therapy), both of which can boost immunity and destroy bacterial, fungal, and viral infections that can severely compromise the health of people with AIDS.
   8. Healing unresolved emotional issues such as anger, fear, guilt, and hopelessness, is also essential, as such emotions can depress immunity when they are suppressed or inappropriately expressed.

Jos jedan trubadur...

oh sto volim ovu Aneu, ona prva odgovori na sve moje teme...

jeste.. ja bar pridajem "neki" znacaj tim teorijama...
treba da me drzis ko malo vode na dlanu...